Pajtim Kasami
Encyclopedia
Pajtim Kasami is a Swiss footballer of Albania
n descent who plays for Fulham
in the Premier League. He has been hailed as one of the brightest future stars of Switzerland.
before he joined Grasshoppers in Zürich in 2008. In the same year, he also briefly played for Liverpool
. On 2 February 2009, at age 16, he moved to Lazio
in the Italian Serie A
, where he earned a call-up to the Swiss U-17 national team at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup
. At the start of the 2009–10 season, Kasami was reported absent without leave and was due to play for the reserves that season.
, signing a contract until 2011. He made his professional debut in March after his free transfer was cleared by Swiss Football Association
. His contract with Lazio was terminated after Lazio failed to give Kasami any appearances in the youth teams or first team, and was due to Lazio not yet paying compensation to Grasshopper. At Bellinzona, he earned a call-up to the Switzerland U21 team
along with team-mates Alessandro Ciarrocchi
and Frank Feltscher
, making his debut against Georgia U21
on 30 May 2010.
against Maribor
. He then made his Serie A debut later on 30 August, playing the entire home league game against Cagliari
, which ended in a 0–0 draw. He concluded the season with 24 appearances: 14 in the league
, 8 in Europa League and 2 in Coppa Italia
.
has lauded new signing Pajtim Kasami as a "great talent". Pajtim Kasami made his debut for Fulham as a late substitute in the 0-0 draw in their Europa League clash with RNK Split. He was later in the starting line versus FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
on the 19 August 2011, playing for 88 minutes and was greatly involved in the set up of all the 3 goals.
Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia
Albanians are the largest ethnic minority in the Republic of Macedonia. Of the 2,022,547 citizens of Macedonia, 509,083, or 25%, are Albanian according to the latest national census in 2002. The Albanian minority lives mostly in the north-western part of the country...
n descent who plays for Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
in the Premier League. He has been hailed as one of the brightest future stars of Switzerland.
Early career
Kasami started his career in 2003 with Swiss club WinterthurFC Winterthur
FC Winterthur is a Swiss football club based in Winterthur, Canton of Zürich. They play in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football...
before he joined Grasshoppers in Zürich in 2008. In the same year, he also briefly played for Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. On 2 February 2009, at age 16, he moved to Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
in the Italian Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
, where he earned a call-up to the Swiss U-17 national team at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup
2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup
The 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup was the thirteenth tournament of the FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Nigeria from October 24 to November 15, 2009.The tournament was won by Switzerland, beating 1-0 the host team, Nigeria...
. At the start of the 2009–10 season, Kasami was reported absent without leave and was due to play for the reserves that season.
Professional career
In December 2009 Kasami returned to Switzerland to play for BellinzonaAC Bellinzona
AC Bellinzona is a Swiss football club based in Bellinzona. It was founded in 1904, and won the Swiss Super League in 1948.-History:Since Bellinzona is an Italian speaking region, many Italian Serie A clubs loan youth players to the club to get first team experience. AS Roma are a parent club to...
, signing a contract until 2011. He made his professional debut in March after his free transfer was cleared by Swiss Football Association
Swiss Football Association
The Swiss Football Association is the governing body of football in Switzerland. It organizes the football league, the Swiss Football League, and the Switzerland national football team. It is based in Bern....
. His contract with Lazio was terminated after Lazio failed to give Kasami any appearances in the youth teams or first team, and was due to Lazio not yet paying compensation to Grasshopper. At Bellinzona, he earned a call-up to the Switzerland U21 team
Switzerland national under-21 football team
The Switzerland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Switzerland and is controlled by the Swiss Football Association...
along with team-mates Alessandro Ciarrocchi
Alessandro Ciarrocchi
Alessandro Ciarrocchi is a Swiss footballer who plays for Bellinzona at Swiss Super League.-External links:* *http://www.tuttocalciatori.net/Ciarrocchi_Alessandro...
and Frank Feltscher
Frank Feltscher
Frank Feltscher Martínez is a Venezuelan football midfielder of Swiss descent who plays for Grasshopper Club Zürich.- Career :...
, making his debut against Georgia U21
Georgia national under-21 football team
The Georgian U-21 national football team is the football team representing Georgia in competitions for under-21 year old players.-Current squad :The following players were called up for the European Under-21 Football Championship...
on 30 May 2010.
Palermo
On 7 June 2010 Palermo announced they had signed the midfielder in a 5-year contract from Bellinzona. Despite his young age, he was immediately included in the first team and made his debut with a rosanero jersey as a second-half substitute in the first leg of the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League play-off2010–11 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase and play-off round
This article details the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase and play-off round.Each tie is played over two legs, with each team playing one leg at home. The team that has the higher aggregate score over the two legs progresses to the next round...
against Maribor
NK Maribor
Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from...
. He then made his Serie A debut later on 30 August, playing the entire home league game against Cagliari
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio is an Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. The club was formed in 1920 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, having spent a large part of recent years mainly in Serie A and Serie B....
, which ended in a 0–0 draw. He concluded the season with 24 appearances: 14 in the league
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
, 8 in Europa League and 2 in Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
.
Fulham FC
On 25 July 2011 Kasami signed for Fulham on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around the figure of £3.5million, in the aftermath of a rejection of a former £3.2million offer. Fulham manager Martin JolMartin Jol
Maarten Cornelis "Martin" Jol is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder who currently manages Fulham in the Premier League. Jol played over 400 games during his career which included spells in the Netherlands, Germany, and England, as well as earning three caps with the Dutch national team...
has lauded new signing Pajtim Kasami as a "great talent". Pajtim Kasami made his debut for Fulham as a late substitute in the 0-0 draw in their Europa League clash with RNK Split. He was later in the starting line versus FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
Football Club Dnipro is a Ukrainian professional football club from the city of Dnipropetrovsk.-BRIT:The club's franchise traces its history all the way back when the first team that was formed in 1918 by the Petrovsky factory and was called as BRIT . The team participated in the regional competition...
on the 19 August 2011, playing for 88 minutes and was greatly involved in the set up of all the 3 goals.